Prep Track: Last go-around for two NUIC coaching friends/rivals

Lena-Winslow’s Pete Brown and Polo’s Tom Welty have coached boys track in the NUIC since the late 70s. They have formed a bond throughout the years and will enjoy one last state meet together before retiring from their posts.

By Joey Baskerville

Journal Standard

By Joey Baskerville

Posted May. 22, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 22, 2013 at 9:19 PM

By Joey Baskerville

Posted May. 22, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 22, 2013 at 9:19 PM

OREGON

Lena-Winslow’s Pete Brown and Polo’s Tom Welty have coached boys track in the NUIC since the late 70s.

They have formed a bond throughout the years and will enjoy one last state meet together before retiring from their posts.

“Tom was a junior high coach for a number of years and I knew him from Polo in that relationship,” Brown said. “And I’ve been coaching for a long time.

“There’s been some good friendships within the track fraternity that I’m going to miss.”

The Panthers and Marcos have consistently been two of the top teams in the NUIC. Each team again has several state qualifiers for this week’s 1A state meet in Charleston.

“In our conference, if they (Le-Win) don’t win it, we usually do,” Welty said. “He’s got one heck of a program and Pete’s just a class act.”

The rivalry between the two teams has forged a friendship between Brown and Welty.

“It’s been a great, friendly rivalry. Pete’s a top-notch coach,” Welty said. “I’ll miss that probably more than anything, that rivalry and competition with each other.

“It’s been a good friendship,” Brown agreed, “and there’s mutual respect between the two programs. We’ve gotten along real well together and there’s respected camaraderie of shared stories. We try to help each other to be better coaches and better individuals.”

It was announced before last week’s Oregon Sectional that it would be Welty’s last sectional meet. He was honored prior to the start of the final events, as an announcer noted Welty’s achievements as both a coach and former Polo sprinter.

“It’s always great when you can get to the big dance,” Welty said. “We’re real happy with our guys going down and wished we could have got some relays down, but with it being my last hurrah, I’m really happy to see a group have their season extended.”